Binding device



Nov. 23, 1937. -c. E. EMMER 2,099,881

' BINDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 16. 1955 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 PATENTOFFICEamnnve nnvrcn Charles E. Emmer, Chicago, 111., asslsnor to Cercla, Inc.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 10, 1935,Serial No. 45,175 i 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in binding devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a binding device forperforated loose leaves, pamphlets or the like which is formedpreferably of sheet material, such as metal, and comprises arcuatebinding arms which inter-engage at the free ends by telescopic action toprovide rings enabling the bound sheets to be turned freely to 0 open orclosed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a binding device formed ofa single sheet of material having arms the margins or marginal portionsof which are folded over one face of the arms to provide a doublethickness of material which not only stiffens the arms but providesmeans for effecting a relatively smooth interlocking engagement betweenthe ends of the arms after the sheets have been assembled on the bindingdevice.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangementof parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the followingspecification and accompanying drawing, wherein certain embodiments ofthe invention are shown for the purpose of illustration. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a broken'perspective view of a binding device shown inclosed or binding position, sheets and covers being indicated by dashlines.

Figure 2 is a broken perspective view of the Figure '7 is a brokenperspective view of a further modification of the invention.

modification.

In Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing, l0 indicates a central strip havingintegral laterally extending arms which preferably are stamped from asingle sheet of metal. Arms. ll extend from one edge of the strip andarms I! from the opposite edge as illustrated in Figure 2. Betweenadjacent arms of one group such as arms ll, tabs l3 are provided.

The arms of both groups have the free ends Figure 8 is a brokenperspective view of another reduced in width to form tongues orprojections Ila, l2a which preferably are rounded at the extremities.The longitudinal margins of the arms II and I2 constitute flanges Ill)and l2b respectively, which are adapted to be folded over 5 a face ofthe respective arms to stiffen the same, to provide smooth edges and toprovide recesses adjacent the bases of the tongues for receivin thetongues of the opposite arms. The flanges llb, III) are spaced slightlyfrom the faces of 10 the outer or free ends of the arms but may bepressed into close contact with said arms at the opposite ends ifdesired. The spacing of the flanges from the arms as mentioned providesrece' ses for receiving the tongues or projections 15.

of the opposite arms.' Figure 4 illustrates certain of the flanges lib;

l2b folded over one face of the respective arms.

It will be noted in Figure 4 that flanges llb are folded over the lowerfaces of arms II and that 20 flanges I217 are folded over the upper faceof arms l2. When the flanges of the arms have been folded as abovementioned the arms II and.

i2 are given the arcuate form shown in Figure 2 V which is less than asemi-circle. The strip Ill 25' is folded along its longitudinal center,indicated by line Illa in Figure 4, and the tabs l3 are folded over theopposite edge of the strip to retain the strip firmly in foldedposition. The binder is then in the form illustrated in Figure 2 and isso ready for receiving the sheets to be bound.

The sheets l4 indicated by dash lines in Figure l, are perforated at IEto receive the'arms II and I2 and may be placed on the arms with thestrip ll! disposed midway between the covers I 6, 35 I! or,- ifpreferred, with the strip l0 disposed adjacent the back cover. The openends of the arms then are pressed together, the tongues Ila entering therecesses l2c formed between the folded over flanges I21) and theadjacent faces 40 of the arms, and the tongues I20. enteringthecorresponding recesses llc.

Due to the stiffening efiect produced by folding over the flanges Ila.and I24; and the double thickness of the strip lll, thin metal may beem- 4 ployed which results in a relatively smooth joint at the connectedends of the arms. The thick ness of the metal is considerablyexaggerated in the drawing as will 2:: appreciated. The relativedimensions of the projections or tongues Ila, 50 We and the recessesllc, lZc may be such as to provide a tight frictional fit to retain thearms in closed position during use.

To further restrain withdrawal of the tongues Ila and Ho from therespective recesses of the 56 opposite arms, the tongues may, ifdesired, be provided with outwardly pressed portions I8 which during theclosing operation snap past or into engagement with cooperating portionsIQ of the opposite arms.

Due to the mutual telescopic arrangement wherein the tongues Ho. and i2aof the arms 25 have tongues 25b formed as extensions of the flanges 25a.The tongue 25b of each arm 25 is thus formed of two parts.

One advantage of this arrangement is that by folding the flanges of botharms over the. inner faces of the respective arms 24, 25, no seams orspaces are formed on the exposed or outer surfaces of the arms.

After the perforated sheets to be bound are inserted on the arms, thelatter are pressed into mutual telescopic relation wherein tongues 24benter recesses 25c and tongues 25b enter recesses 240. The relativedimensions of the cooperating arms and recesses can be such as toprovide a fect this result the curvature of the ends Ha, Ha friction fitwhich retains the arms in engagement is such that as the arms arepressed toward closed position the paired tongues I la, l2a will moveinto contact and serve to guide each other into the respective recesses.

The modification of the invention shown in Figures and 6 corresponds tothe form shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, except, that the back strip20 of Figures 5 and 6 extends inwardly of the binder instead ofoutwardly. The change is effected by folding the back strip 20 along itscenter line in a direction opposite the direction of fold of strip 10.

Tabs 2|, corresponding to tabs i3, are also provided for securing theedges of the strip 20 against separating movement. The remainingportions of the device of Figures 5 and 6 are similar in all respects tothe form first described and are given similar identifying referencecharacters. In both described forms of the invention, the back strips l0and 20 may be disposed within the bound edges of the sheets eithercentrally thereof or between the back cover and the last bound sheet. Ifdesired, however, the strips may be disposed outwardly of they boundsheets.

In Figure 7 the strip 22 is not folded along its center line, as in theabove modifications, but is flat or slightly curved in cross section, asillustrated. Tabs 23, integral with the strip and disposed betweenadjacent arms and I2 are folded.

over the inner face of the strip to stiffen it and provide smooth edgestherefor. The strip 22 will be disposed along the bound edges of thesheets, and provides a. backing upon which indicia such as the title,volume, number, or like matter can be attached.

In this form of the invention half the perforated sheets may be placedon one group of arms,

'and the remaining sheets on the other group of arms prior to pressingthe arms to closed position or all the sheets to be bound and thecovers, if any, may be placed on one arm if desired, unless the numberof sheets is too great, and the arms thereafter moved to closed positionand the sheets distributed upon both arms. Since the construction of thearms of the binder shown in Figure '7 is the same as-the arms of Figures1 to 4, similar reference characters are employed to designatecorresponding parts, and it is believed no additional description of thesame is required.

In Figure 8 the arms 24 and 25 are arcuate but due to the relative sizeand shape of the back strip 26 the binding is not circular in crosssection. The arms 24 and 25 while preferably integral with the backstrip as in the previously described forms of the invention, have theirmargins 24a, 25a respectively folded over the inner face of the arms inboth instances. The arms 24 are provided with tongues 24b extendingarcuately from the outer'face thereof While M1 15 or the arms may, ifdesired, be provided with portions 21, 28, the former of which snapspast the latter when the arms are pressed to closed position to restrainseparation of the inter-engaged ends to provide a permanent binding.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my improvementsfor the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restrictedspecifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A binder comprising a strip directed arcuate arms extending therefromarranged in cooperating pairs adapted to be pressed into ring form, saidarms being of sheet material and provided with projections on the freeends of certain of said arms and recesses in the mating arms each fortelescopically receiving said projection of the other arm of the pairfor connecting said ends together.

2. A binder comprising a strip and two groups of integral oppositelydirected arcuate arms, the arms of one group having marginal portionsfoldedover one face of the arms to provide recesses adjacent the freeends of the arms, the arms of the opposite group having free endsarranged to pass into said recesses to provide closed binding rings, andmeans for retaining said rings in closed position.

3. A binding device comprising a strip provided with two groups ofoppositely directed arcuate arms adapted to be pressed into ring form,each of said arms being paired with an arm of the other group andprovided with longitudinal recesses adjacent the free ends thereof, saidarms each having a free end arranged to pass into the recess of theother arm of the pair to provide mutually tescopic connections for thearms when pressed into ring form.

4. A binding device comprising a strip proand oppositely vided withoppositely directed arcuate arms adapted to be pressed into ringform,-said arms having projections at the free ends thereof and recessesat the rear of said projections, said arms being arranged in pairswhereby when each pair is pressed into ring form the projection of eacharm is disposed within the recess of its mate to provide mutualtelescopic connections for the arms.

5. A binding device comprising a strip provided jection of said arm, thearrangement being such that as said arms are pressed to ring form theprojection of each arm serves as a guide to direct its mate into thecooperating receiving recess.

6. A binding device comprising a. strip having integral arcuate armsarranged in pairs extending from opposite edges thereof, and adapted tobe pressed into ring form, saidarms having longitudinal marginalportions folded over a face thereof to provide tongue receiving recessesadjacent the free ends of the arms, and a tongue projecting beyond theforward end of each recess and arranged to enter the recess of anopposite arm when said pairs of arms are pressed into ring form toconnect the free ends of each pair of arms.

CHARLES E. EMINIER.

